The Zen of Film vs Digital

Found this post from Chase Jarvis's blog and had to make note of it. It is a great post form Doug Menuez of his (I guess) new blog Menuez 2.0. About Film vs. Digital, a very good read and I have to say he hit home so I got out the 1V and shot a few rolls today. Really felt good...

THE ZEN OF FILM vs. DIGITAL GRATIFICATION

“Mulling it over, I couldn’t articulate it fully but definitely, I knew I had become lazy, really lazy. A spectacular sloth by the standards of shooting film. Film is hard. Film is a stone cold unforgiving killing bastard. Film is once in a lifetime, no excuses. F8 and really, really be there: ready, steady, in focus, correct exposure, and pressing the shutter in synch with life.”

Thanks to Chase Jarvis for bring it out to more photogs.

Shots from Joshua Tree

This was my first visit to Joshua Tree State Park a couple of weeks ago. I was lucky to hit the golden hour just right and get these fun landscapes. I could have used a 6 x 17. I will go back with one next time.

ThinkTank Products and a Free Gift with purchase

I have recently be come an affiliate with Think Tank Photo and can offer you a free 50 Lens Changer Bag with a purchase of $50.00 or more from Think Tank.
To receive this special offer you just have to click on this to get to my page at ThinkTank where you out in the special code AP-253 and when you make a purchase of $50.00 or more you will receive the 50 Lens Changer bag for free!

Below is their recent news letter:

News From Think Tank Photo

February 2009
In This Issue
Belt System: Modular or Skin?
Receive A Free Gift
Supplement Your Revenue
Looking For Product Photos
Dear Loren,

Dan Navarette, our head of Customer Service, reports that one question we receive is about the difference between our "Modular" and our "Skin" modular systems. In this month's newsletter we shed some light. (BTW: click here if you want to see a really great thread about Dan on Sportsshooter.)
Belt System: Modular or Skin?
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Modular belt systems are an excellent, versatile way for you to pack your camera bodies, lenses and accessories. With our Modular system and our Skin system, you can select how lightweight and how much protection you desire based on your preference.

With both systems, with our "Rotate and Lock" design you can either lock the pouches "in place" or you can us the hook and loop fastener on the flap of the pouch to secure it to the belt line. Keeping the pouch "in place" has the advantage of securing the pouch to a specific location on your Skin Belt, Pro Speed Belt, or Steroid Speed Belt. Once in place, you now have your gear in the exact location of choice.

Attaching a pouch solely with the hook and loop fastener allows you to rotate your pouches freely around the belt to change the weight distribution on your waist. One of the greatest benefits of our belt systems is that they keep the weight of your gear on your waist and off your back. You also have the added benefit of greater mobility and quick gear retrieval when you need it.

We have designed two distinctive modular belt systems. They are:

Modular System image

Modular Set (right) -- We have produced a wide variety of pouches and cases for this belt system to accommodate the lenses and accessories most often used by photographers. These pouches and cases can be bought individually or in our 6-piece Modular Set. This set includes the Large Lense Drop In (holds an ultra wide-angle lens), the Lens Changer 35 (holds a 24-70 mm 2.8), and the Lens Changer 75 Pop Down (perfect for a 70-200 mm 2.8 lens). Have a flash? You also get the Lightning Fast for your SB-800 or equivalent. You also receive the Lens Changer 50 (holds zoom lenses, such as the 16-35 2.8 and 17-40, with the lens hood attached) and the Speed Changer for all of your accessories. Overall, this 6-piece set is an excellent way to get started on building your modular belt system

Skin Set imageSkin Set (right) -- This non-padded, lightweight, 5-piece modular system allows you to organize your gear on all Think Tank belts while working quietly. With the Silencer Flap there are no hook and loop fasteners "scratching" when you open them. In contrast to the Modular system, these bags have no foam. The set includes the Skin 50 (for zoom lens such as the 16-35 2.8 with hood in position), Skin 75 Drop Down (holds larger lens such as the 70-200 2.8 with hood reversed, or "pop-down" for hood in position), Skin Double Wide (holds two larger lenses such as the 70-200 2.8 with hood reversed and 24-70 2.8 with hood in position, in one unit), Skin Strobe (for your SLR flash), and Skin Chimp (the perfect solution for carrying one digital SLR body, as well as other SLR equipment).

While the bags are interchangable on our belt systems, photographers tend to select one style of modular system or the other. Those who seek that extra layer of protection for their expensive gear prefer the Modular system because of the foam padding. Those who prefer being able to "compress" their belt system into their travel bags so that it takes up the minimum amount of space while in transit, prefer the Skin system. It really depends on your personal preferences.

One secret professional photographers use with both belt systems is that they figure out what shooting situation they are about to enter and pre-load it with the gear and bags they anticipate needing. That way when they hit the ground they just extract the belt system from their roller or transportation backpack and strap it on, ready to shoot.
We Use Your Photo. You Get A Free Gift!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Daniel Beltra
Share the Moment -- Get a photo of yourself or a friend using our products out in the field (like this Gavin Newman shot in Antarctica of Daniel Beltra using our Speed Racer beltpack) and, if we post it, we'll send you something fun as a "thank you" in the mail. Attach your image as a 72 DPI, JPEG at 8 inches wide or tall and send it to: PixelParty@ThinkTankPhoto.com

Looking For Product Photos
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Kurt Rogers
We have started work on a new project and are very interested in receiving photos of our gear in action. These can be shots of our gear on photographers while in use, or just great shots of our gear. If you have high-quality shots you think might be of interest to us, please contact Larry Atil at larry@thinktankphoto.com with the name of the product featured in the shot (don't send photos yet). Larry will send you more details about the nature of the shots he seeks. If we end up using your photo we'll send you a free gift in gratitude.
Quick Links...
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Where to Buy Our Gear Click Here and get a free gift!
Our Philosophy (For the full story, move your cursor over each image)
Share the Moment (Share your photo with us and receive a free gift if we use it)
Despite these hard economic times, we at Think Tank remain committed to designing and manufacturing the highest quality gear and to providing equally high quality and personal customer service. You can continue to count on us.

Peru # 2

I have one suggestion when fling anywhere. Get the fewest amount of layovers as possible. We had 3 layovers because of the set up by the tour (it was changed 3 times too). A big pain in the back side to say the least, let alone the amount of hours spent on the planes.

We were given a leisure day as we arrived early in the morning in Lima. We ended up strolling through Miraflores a district of Lima, and ended up at this quite restaurant for lunch on a beautiful sunny day. After ordering I found a Vogue magazine and flipped through it to find a editorial fashion story that Mario Testino shot in Peru. Above is one of the photos from the layout and my chicken crape that was very tasty.

The bike shot is for my buddy Marty. I seem to take shots of cool bikes and bike shops when I travel just for him. He's kinda into bikes...

Mira fores is a very modern city. Not something I would consider staying for a long time but useful as a stop over. The view of the Pacific Ocean is quite spectacular for sure.

I had my video camera with me and I am hoping to show the most beautiful thing I have shot with video on the next blog entry. Well worth the wait.

Hola Peru!

What an experience it was being in Peru. After getting back into the swing of things I have sometime before heading to Canada to write about the quick 10 day tour. I hope to produce a few blogs a day before the holidays chronicling the trip. (but don't hold your breath)

Ironically trying to get everything done before leaving for the trip was more than a small task. I don't think I got to work out for three weeks previous to the trip which was a concern but an unnecessary thought. Having trouble with high altitude in one of my favorite places, Steamboat Colorado, I took as much caution and advice from friends and family. I didn't want to have to take Diamox, the over the counter drug for altitude sickness while in Cuzco. So my great friend and fellow Photographer Adam Weintraub who has 10 years experience of traveling and living in Peru (he should, he married one) suggested to do like the Peruvians while in Peru. Eat, drink, chew "the Coca leaf". I was happier than a nerd in a tech store. Some folks don't like it but I felt like million bucks, and I didn't mind the taste.

Just to mention that Adam is the creator of the photoexperience.net work shops. You should check them out.

Back to Photography...The decision to packing camera gear differently was a two month task. Still and video in one bag. Which one, did I have to, need to, bring a back pack, could I roll the bag. Decisions decisions. And did it work? Well, well enough.

Couple of factors other than the ones mention above, carry on size, safety, stability of the case. Normally I use a big rolling Think Tank bag the "Airport Security" bag. Not the v2.0 the older one. I took it to Bali in 2007 and it fit in every overhead compartment even international flights. This time was going to be different traveling meaning more movement and without a home base per say and I would always need different lenses and so on.

I settled on the Think tank Airport Ultra Light. Now you have to be careful because Think Tank no longer sells the one I was using. I also purchase a Hardgig Storm Case 2500 in which the Airport Ultra Light fit it. The combination was advertised to go together but I do not see it that way on the Think Tank site now. This gave my back pack wheels in a sense, cuz if I am in an airport the ground is flat and I do not want to carry anything especially heavy camera gear. So this solved the transportation problem.

I quickly go tired of the back pack to be honest and switched to the Adventure Vest after my shoulders got sore the second day and was happy after that. I trimmed down the gear to essentials and went with what I needed and was able to get to my equipment much faster than taking the pack off every time. I like the roller hard case for the price, it is great protection for gear and makes a great chair in the airport. But I might go with a smaller Roller that has emergency shoulder straps for over all equipment as I did in Bali. With the new airline bag regs you will have to go with something more of the size of the Think Tank Airport International.

TSA locks are advisable in the states but don't use them internationally. Use zip ties. That way if you bag is searched while at an international airport they will not have to cut your nice TSA locks. Happened to me this trip. Really, it was only to keep the Pisco safe. More on that later.

Story of Stuff

This little website; www.storyofstuff.com was sent over to me by a friend. It is quick and simple video on consumption and economy that is very interesting in our current economic times. Take a look and see what little things can make a difference fast.

Taking Names...

As we swing into fall I wanted to create energetic, sensual photos that related well to agency's and advertisers wanting their products in the minds and hands of teens and twenty somethings. Ironically the thirty and forty folks want to look this way too.

Evelia was available and so was Big Willie. We quickly took on a short time span of beautiful light last Saturday the 28th of Sept. We ended up waiting around for the dense bright light to soften. The waiting lead to only having about 45 minutes of shooting light. Good if you know what you are doing and bad if you don't have a clue.

It didn't take long to notice we had something very special so we all worked quickly and squeezed three changes of clothing in. I ended up with over 140 keepers out of all the photos and span about seven different genres.

Though the shoot was not to come up with so many different aspects from just a few changes of clothing. But I am so glad that with our collaboration that day, we were able to succeed in so many ways with out even trying. That is what made it special.

The photos above were the second of three changes of clothing and are my faves from the entire shoot. I know there are other amazing shots from the take (don't mean to toot my own horn) but these captured the essence of my first instincts for the shoot.